'Rank-And-File Review Of Road Safety' Agreed

The Infrastructure Minister has been instructed by the States Assembly to look at ways of improving road safety in Jersey.

It follows a popular petition from Joanna Dentskevich, whose son Freddie was seriously injured when he was knocked off his bike in St Martin nearly a year ago.

No one was charged because of 'insufficient evidence', prompting Freddie's mum to ask for a law change to protect vulnerable road users.

The call for 'Freddie's Law' has been signed by more than 3,700 supporters.

That prompted parish Constable Karen Shenton-Stone to lodge a proposition asking for the Highway Code to be changed to introduce a hierarchy of responsibility for road users.

That would mean those who can do the most harm would have the greatest responsibility to reduce the threat they may pose to others.

The Infrastructure Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis instead proposed looking at the benefits of such a system, which he says he supports 'in principle'.

"The (UK) Department for Transport is currently undertaking a similar piece of work and is preparing their response to consultation on introducing such a hierarchy within the Highway Code, so it seems prudent to await their outcome and use this intelligence to inform our own decisions."

He has also agreed to what he's described as a 'rank-and-file review' of road safety in Jersey, with a focus on the needs of vulnerable road users.

It will look at what is currently in place and set the island's vision for road safety going forward.

Findings and recommendations have to be published by the end of this year.

Constable Shenton-Stone hopes this will accelerate efforts to create a culture of safe and effective road use.

"As St Martin's Constable, I have a duty to represent my parishioners and as a States member I have a duty to all islanders, not just those who live in the parish.

"I therefore believe that it is vital that we do what we can to ensure that an incident like this (Freddie being knocked off his bike) doesn't happen again.

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"Although everyone suffers during a road collision, those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in collisions have the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the damage they pose to others.

"We all know that there is a continuing need to encourage islanders to adopt more sustainable forms of transport, so it is vital that Jersey is able to provide the necessary protections to keep them safe.

"A thorough, open review with active public engagement and well-researched findings and recommendations will make significant strides to helping us become a safer, greener and healthier society."